Practical guidance for real research problems
Guides, worked examples and lessons from real studies to help you make better research decisions from planning through publication.
39 results in methods
Quantitative ResearchGuide3 min readIntervention Adaptation Log: A FRAME-informed Template
Document what changed in an intervention, why, when and by whom, then assess implications for core functions and implementation.
Quantitative ResearchGuide3 min readImplementation Outcomes vs Service and Health Outcomes
Distinguish implementation, service and health outcomes, and specify the actor, denominator, time point and evidence for each measure.
Quantitative ResearchGuide3 min readPilot Study Progression Criteria: A Worked Example
Set justified progression criteria for recruitment, retention and delivery, and use them to decide whether a larger study is feasible.
Quantitative ResearchGuide3 min readMixed Methods Joint Display: A Worked Example
Connect quantitative findings and qualitative explanations in a joint display, including disagreement, limitations and the resulting integrated inference.
Quantitative ResearchGuide3 min readMissing Data Analysis: Audit Patterns Before Choosing a Method
Audit missing values by variable, participant, time point and study group before deciding whether complete-case analysis or imputation is defensible.
Quantitative ResearchGuide3 min readData Cleaning Log: Template and Worked Example
Create a reproducible cleaning log that separates detected problems, investigation and justified corrections while preserving raw data.
Quantitative ResearchGuide3 min readResearch Data Dictionary: Template and Example
Document variable meanings, units, codes, missing values and derivations so your dataset can be interpreted and analysed consistently.
Quantitative ResearchGuide3 min readQuestionnaire Translation and Cultural Adaptation: Steps
Plan questionnaire translation around conceptual meaning, participant understanding and measurement, not just word-for-word agreement.
Qualitative ResearchGuide3 min readCognitive Interviewing: How to Test Survey Questions
Test how participants understand, recall and answer survey questions before fieldwork, with a worked example and revision log.
Qualitative ResearchGuide3 min readHow to Anonymise Interview Transcripts
Reduce identification risks in transcripts and quotations while preserving analytical meaning, using a practical replacement and review process.
Qualitative ResearchGuide3 min readNegative Case Analysis in Qualitative Research: An Example
Use contradictory cases to refine qualitative claims, examine boundaries and resist forcing every account into the same explanation.
Qualitative ResearchGuide3 min readFocus Group Composition: Who Should Be in the Same Group?
Plan focus-group composition around relationships, hierarchy and the interaction your question needs, with a practical grouping example.
Qualitative ResearchGuide3 min readFramework Analysis Matrix: A Worked Qualitative Example
Chart qualitative cases in a framework matrix while retaining context, source references and the difference between summary and interpretation.
Qualitative ResearchGuide3 min readAnalytic Memo in Qualitative Research: Example and Template
Use an analytic memo to develop an interpretation, examine your assumptions and identify the evidence needed to test a developing idea.
Qualitative ResearchGuide3 min readHow to Pilot a Qualitative Interview Guide
Pilot an interview guide for meaning, flow, depth and feasibility, then document revisions instead of treating the pilot as a rehearsal.
Qualitative ResearchGuide3 min readSemi-structured Research Interviews: Questions and Probes
Write neutral interview questions and follow-up probes that reveal experiences without supplying the answer you hope to hear.
Quantitative ResearchGuide3 min readPaired Pre–Post Data: Check the Pairs Before Analysis
Audit identifiers, follow-up windows and attrition before comparing pre- and post-scores, and report the population your estimate represents.
Quantitative ResearchGuide3 min readTable 1 in a Research Paper: Example and Checklist
Build a clear participant-characteristics table with appropriate summaries, explicit denominators and a defensible role for comparisons.
Quantitative ResearchGuide3 min readLikert Scale Analysis: Single Items vs Multi-item Scores
Distinguish a single ordered response from a multi-item score, and choose summaries and analyses that match the measure and study question.
Quantitative ResearchGuide3 min readOdds Ratio vs Risk Ratio: A Worked Example
See why an odds ratio and risk ratio can describe the same data with different numbers, and how to report each without exaggerating the finding.